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Monday, 30 September 2013

Sur Le Pont: Half a Bridge and Half a Taste of Provence

This time last week we were in Avignon...

on a touring holiday of Provence...

which is a beautiful area of France...

The tour was called A Taste of Provence and that was what we were given.The itinerary covered more kilometres than I cared to count. Unfortunately this meant daily doses of sitting on a coach together with a group of over forty people.

Since Mr A's stem cell transplant this is not the best of environments for him. We opted out of the last two days and, while he sat around the hotel coughing and sneezing and generally feeling grot, I got to see a little more of Avignon than the tour itinerary had allocated.

He managed a slow stroll for Sunday lunch in Avignon's beautiful Place de l'Horloge. We sat in the leafy shade of a street caféand watched as the locals closed off the entire length of the main street, turning it into a fabulous bicycle race track.

After lunch children swarmed from all directions with an array of bikes and fancy helmets, followed by proud mothers, fathers, grandparents and babies in pushchairs. Each bike race was accompanied by a brass band ensemble and enthusiastic cheers from the crowd.

But this was no 'stroll in the park'. There was a pacemaker, the route was long and hard, with the number of laps increasing as the older children took to the track. No child was allowed to drop out, even those who fell off at the start of races [and there were many who did, especially among the younger groups]. Each child was lifted back onto their bikes and pushed off to rejoin the race. We all cheered really loudly for those peddling like crazy at the back.

You could tell from the atmosphere that everyone was having a thoroughly enjoyable Sunday afternoon but I couldn't help feeling that there was a serious side to it too. These children were being taught to 'stick at it' to 'not drop out' to 'push themselves to their limit' to 'work as a team'. It was a fascinating insight into the French cycle racing psyche and, although we were both disappointed at having to miss the last two days of our Provence tasters, we were pleased to have experienced an afternoon with the locals.

Mr A. is now well on the mend... but my throat feels just a tad... [coughs pathetically]

Hi! I popped over from AJ's blog to see you. We did a Taste of Provence holiday a few years which ended up in Avignon - can't remember who ran it though. I loved Avignon and we spent a couple of days there. We went round a lovely outdoor market and I bought some material to make a tablecloth and napkins when I got home. I love them and wish I had bought more. Every time I spread it on the table it reminds me of the sunshine, the lavender and the delicious food.

Ros, I'm glad you had some you time in the end, even if it did mean missing the last of the tour. Interesting insights you had into the cycle race there. Your photos are really lovely and the light is just gorgeous!

great pics and glad you had a bit of adventure. I like the idea of these kids having to persevere. Excellent and glad you witnessed it. Hope both you and Mr.A feel tippy top this week. Rest up for more adventures later - I always enjoy your trips.

Nice photos. Sounds like a good trip other than the bus. My post on Friday will be dedicated to you. I'll be posting the Mr. Potato Head story that I told you about a year and a half ago. Better late than never I guess.

Might have been a blessing in disguise, having the chance to see a bit of real life instead of viewing sights through the window of a coach. I'm glad you turned the situation round and had a good time!

Hi Ros .. oh poor Mr A - still it was good of him to go in the first place ... but I am not happy in groups - much prefer doing my own thing ... your lunch and day watching the locals and their race - sounds just so much fun ..

Good to read about your tour and see your photos - enjoyable ... now you're both nearly recovered .. cheers Hilary

Rosalind Adam

I am a writer, committed worrier and nostalgia obsessive with a fascination for all things historical. I have just completed an MA in Creative Writing at Leicester University and I loved every minute of it. Please scroll down to see my books...

The Children's Book of Richard III

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Children's History of Leicester

A Children's History of Leicester published by Hometown World Publishers, 2011

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Bathtime Rap is a fun children's picture book published by Franklin Watts, 2008.

Building a Community

A history of the Leicester Progressive Jewish Congregation

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Leicester Jewish Voices

In 2009 I coordinated a memories project looking at the Leicester Jewish Community during the 1950s and 60s. You can see the website by clicking on the picture.

Local Cemetery Project

I coordinated the cataloguing of the Jewish section of Leicester Gilroes to provide a genealogical search facility. Subsequent research of a number of the headstones enabled us to record 'The Lives Behind the Stones'. 2014/15